Fresh details have emerged in the case of the Chinese convict who escaped from Nsawam prison while serving a jail term.
A recent CCTV footage from a hotel in Korle-Gonno has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the escape, revealing how two Ghanaian prison officers were lured with KFC rice, pieces of chicken, and soft drinks by the Chinese escapee.
The footage, reviewed by investigators, indicated that the accused prison officers escorted the Chinese convict to the Oceanic hotel to meet his wife in a room. Shockingly, the convict and his wife allegedly managed to escape over the room’s balcony while the officers waited in the hotel reception area.
This revelation came to light when the two prison officers appeared in an Accra circuit court on March 12, facing charges of assisting Wang Xiao, a Chinese convict at Nsawam Medium Prison, to escape. Joseph Oteng and Sergeant Isaac Boateng Bonsu have both been charged with conspiracy and aiding escape but have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that the correctional officers had initially claimed that the Chinese convict managed to escape after they had escorted him to receive treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. However, further investigations have contradicted their assertions.
It was revealed that Wang Xiao, who is serving a year jail term in the Nsawam prison, had requested to be taken to the Oceanic hotel in Korle-Gonno for a discussion with his wife after receiving treatment at the hospital’s Dental Department. The two accused officers agreed to accompany the convict to the hotel after being promised a reward of GHC1,000, which they agreed to split.
Upon reaching the hotel reception, the accused officers took off the handcuffs of the convict, and one of them informed the receptionist that they were there to meet someone in one of the rooms. The convict and his alleged wife then treated the officers with KFC rice, pieces of chicken, and soft drinks before the officers left them in the room to "spend some time with husband alone" while they sat at the reception.
Upon returning to the room later, the officers discovered that the convict had fled through the balcony of the room together with his wife. Subsequently, they hid the handcuffs at Tema station Hockey stadium and concocted a story about the convict escaping in a taxi to mislead their superiors.
However, their story unraveled during interrogation by their superiors at the Prisons National headquarters, leading to a formal complaint being submitted to the Police on February 13, 2024. Further investigations led the police to the hotel where they reviewed CCTV footage, revealing how the convict and his wife escaped while the accused officers were relaxing in the reception area.
The prosecutor emphasized that it was only when the hotel staff alerted them to check on the prisoner that they realized he had escaped.
As this case unfolds, it underscores the importance of upholding integrity and diligence in law enforcement and corrections. The actions of these accused officers not only compromised security but also undermined public trust. The judiciary will undoubtedly conduct a thorough examination of this case to ensure that justice is served.
The accused officers have been granted bail and are set to reappear in court on April 9, 2024. As this story continues to develop, it serves as a sobering reminder of the critical role played by law enforcement in upholding justice and security within our communities.
-source 3news | curated by Tetteh Belinda | Ghana Crimes
